Psychotherapy apps are exploding in popularity. Talkspace, one of the most popular online therapy companies, reports it already has served well over two million people around the world. While teletherapy was already a growing trend, it absolutely exploded when Covid-19 hit. Psychotherapists are beginning to realize that if you can’t adapt your services to the internet you are likely to be left behind. Teletherapy is not without some concerns, but its advantages are undeniable. Here are the pros and cons of using apps for your therapy needs.

Advantages of Using Psychotherapy Apps

There is a reason that people use psychotherapy apps. Here are some of the biggest advantages:

Convenience

Who wants to go to a therapist’s office when you can receive services from the comfort of your own home? As long as you have a computer or smartphone, you can access help from wherever is most comfortable for you. In addition, you can avoid the stigma and confidentiality issues that occur by having to go to an office where you might see people you know.

Accessibility

Not everyone has access to a therapist. Rural communities may not have any therapists that deal with particular issues. Additionally, disabled people may have difficulty getting to a counselor’s office. Teletherapy provides the opportunity to get help no matter what your situation. However, it is still advisable to see a therapist in your home state. This cuts through any possible insurance issues and makes it easier to see them in person if the necessity arises.

Cost

Using a psychotherapy app isn’t necessarily cheap, but it is usually less expensive than seeing a therapist in person. Talkspace, for example, offers its “ultimate” plan for about $400/month. You might feel this is a lot (and it isn’t cheap) but seeing a therapist weekly in person will likely cost you a lot more if you are paying out of pocket. And many companies give special deals that reduce the cost of the app even more.

Therapist Contact

In conventional psychotherapy, your interaction with a therapist is limited to your in-person therapy session. You might be able to talk to your therapist on the phone if needed, but that is an exception, not the rule. Teletherapy allows for much more regular contact. Depending on the platform, you can communicate through text message, chat room, e-mail, or video conferencing. This flexibility and frequency of contact is a major selling point of psychotherapy apps.

Online Therapy Works

It should be noted that there is not yet much research in this area, but what does exist points to the effectiveness of online therapy in reducing psychological problems. For example, one meta-analysis found that teletherapy was as effective as face-to-face therapy in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. More research is certainly needed, but it sure seems promising.

Disadvantages of Using Psychotherapy Apps

While the advantages are undeniable, psychotherapy apps are not all champagne and roses. Here are some disadvantages you need to consider:

Online Confidentiality

Although psychotherapy apps might tout themselves as being very secure, there is no such thing in the world of the internet. Every app is susceptible to hackers and other security breaches. Of course, mental health information is more sensitive than most, so depending on an app to keep your information safe is something you need to seriously consider.

Technology Issues

Speaking of technology, psychotherapy apps are susceptible to the same problems as any other apps. Poor cell coverage, bad wifi, and bugs, to name a few. In-person therapy may be less convenient, but once you are in the therapist’s office, you can be assured that your time will not be interrupted or compromised by technology concerns.

Quality of Contacts

There is no doubt that psychotherapy apps offer more therapist contact. You can text and have audio and short video contact with therapists 5 days a week, under some plans. However, is texting a few lines with your therapist really supporting your needs? Texting is wildly popular as a form of communication but does it have therapeutic value? And what do you do when your therapist is non-responsive? That is a frequent complaint of psychotherapy apps. The plan may offer certain perks but the therapist may not follow through as advertised. In addition, certain plans don’t offer any video sessions at all. You have to ask yourself: Is remote and/or texting contact with a therapist good enough for you?

Insurance Coverage

The good news is that insurance coverage is rapidly increasing for psychotherapy apps. Medicare, for instance, now covers most online therapy. Additionally, major players, such as Better Help and Talkspace, are covered by many of the big insurance carriers. That being said, there is still much less coverage available overall when compared to traditional in-person psychotherapy. Check with your insurance and your therapist to know for sure.

Attention

Let’s face it, when you text or videoconference, you may not be all there. Clients (and therapists) may be easily distracted by their phones and their environment. I mean, who hasn’t looked at their texts or e-mail at some point during a video call? While it may be a pain to go to an office, both client and therapist are much more likely to concentrate on the therapy at hand. This is especially true for children, who frequently have the attention span of a small rodent. And, speaking of children, how can you do play therapy over Zoom? While psychotherapy apps make therapy more accessible for many, they don’t lend themselves to the same level of client and therapist attention.

Cost

Yes, this was also listed as an advantage, but we have to look at the price in relation to the services you receive with a psychotherapy app. We have discussed that psychotherapy apps are likely less expensive than in-person therapy, but exactly what services are you getting for that cost? For example, Talkspace’s “ultimate” plan seems to give you a lot for $400. Unlimited texting and (almost) daily contact seem a good deal, no? But it only offers four 30-minute video sessions a month. That is opposed to a normal 45-60 minute weekly in-person session you are likely to receive from traditional therapy. So, you might be able to text a few lines with your therapist almost every day, but is that worth the same to you as 15 to 30 minutes added to your weekly psychotherapy session? Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t, but you need to keep it in mind.

Are Psychotherapy Apps Right For You?

Clients and therapists often remark that psychotherapy apps don’t provide the same experience compared to meeting face-to-face. For example, many therapists say that it is harder to assess how their clients are doing over text and video. And clients often complain that they don’t feel the same sense of connection with their therapist. But this seems largely a personal preference. For some people, texting a few lines with their therapist may be all they need. For others, it may not be near enough. You have to make up your own mind. With all their potential benefits, it is probably worth taking a psychotherapy app for a spin so you can decide for yourself. It is nice to have options, isn’t it?